Farrowing-pen for swine



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B. P. OSBORN &. J. R. HARCOURT FABROWING PEN FOR SWINE.

Y Patented Dec. 27, 1892.

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BENJAMIN F. OSBORN, OF NORA, ANDJOI-IN R. HAROOURT, OF

AUGUSTA,

INDIANA.

FARROWlNG-PEN FOR SWINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,739, dated December 27, 1892. Applieation filed December 26, 1891'- Serial Ila-116,204. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. OSBORN, of Nora, and JOHN R. HARCOURT, of Augusta, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hog-Pens; and we do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Heretofore, hog pens have been constructed without any adequate means for protecting young pigs at farrowing time, and thereafter, until they reach several weeks in age, from being overlaid, trampled upon and killed by the sow; and as a result a large per cent of young pigs are lost annually, because of a lack of a proper arrangement of the interior of pens used for farrowing sows. v

The object of our invention is to provide protection for the young pigs during farrowing, and until they get large enough to be out of danger from overlying; and at the same time have such protection easily removable when no longer demanded. We obtain these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1. is a top View, showing'the inclined, and movable floors, frame work of the receptacle, raised pieces at the corners and ends, the beam to which the pulley is attached, which raises and lowers the outside of the receptacle, or box. Fig. 2. is a vertical section of the entire pen, and shows a part of the frame work of the receptacle with the back side of the receptacle down to the floor, and the inclined floor at the ends of the receptacle; the manner of the attachment of the pulley and lifting cord or chain; the posts which support the beam; and the side of the outer pen is also shown. Fig. 3. is a vertical section of the entire pen, and shows the frame work of the receptacle, the attachments of the frame to the level and permanent part of the floor; the inclined floor at the sides of the pen, the pulley and cord used in raising the receptacle, and the receptacle raised so as to allow the pigs to pass into it: also the manner of holding the receptacle at the desired height from the floor of the pen. The permanent or stationary floor is shown, in both Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 4, is a detailed view in perspective of the frame work which supports the pig receptacle or box, in the center of the en. p Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the lower or stationary fioor.

B the out side portions of the pen; O

posts at corners; D the side of the pen; E the portion of the permanent or stationaryfloor covered by the inclined floors. F the support for the inclined floors; G the posts of the frame work of the receptacle; H and I the ties connecting the posts of the receptacle frame; J the sides and ends of the receptacle or box; to posts for support of cross-beam, b c rope or chain used in lifting and changing the position of box or pig-receptacle; d? cross-piece on top of receptacle to which cord or chain is attached to the box. ners and ends of, and on top of the inclined floors; f inclined floors;.g portions of posts and'manner of fastening same to the stationary floors; h location and attachment of pulley.

The pen may be made of any desired size, eight by ten feet being the usual size, and the height of the sides to suit the owner.

In the center of the pen is constructed the frame work shown in Fig. 4., and is usually made of two by four scantling,with the lower ends of the upright posts tapered down upon the inside so as to be small enough to pass through an inch, or inch'and a quarter hole bored in the floor,where the ends are secured by spike or pins. The frame should be not less than five feet long and eighteen to twenty inches wide, and two feet high, from the stationary floor A. The pig-receptacle or box should-be made of inch plank long and wide enough to pass over and work easily over the frame presented and shown in Fig. 4. The box has only sides and ends, being left open at the bottom and having a piece across the cross-bar cl to which is attached the cord or chain c. The box should have a depth. of not less than two feet. The posts a should be high enough to permit a person to easily pass under the cross-beam; the posts a, may be scantling two by four inches, and the cross e raised pieces at-cor-' beam b of the samesize, and. long. enough to reach from post to post. The space between the ends of the pig-box and theouter ends of the pen should be not less than eighteen inches so as to admit of easy passage by the sow; and the inclined .floor f at the ends should extend from the outside of the pen inclining downward to the receptacle or box, but at the sides the inclined floor f should extend from the outer side, and only part way to the box, leaving about one foot to fourteen inches from the inner edge of the inclined floors b to the box J in the center, and held in place by nailing to the stationary floor A. The space above indicated, is for large fleshy sows and if the sows be smaller the space should be narrowed down to suit the size of the sow. The incline of the floors should be one to one and a half inches to the foot. The support F of the inclined floors may be made of dirt, or boards, or scantling, shaping such support to conform to the incline of the floors. The space between the outer side of the pen and the receptacle or box should only be of sufficient width topermit the sow to lie down, and get up easily, and to give her free passage around the box, but yet not permit her to turn around at the sides; the objectbeing. to require her to go forward when she attempts to leave the pen, as itis dangerous for the pigs should any of them be outside of the receptacle, when the sow attempts to turn, or back up, against the receptacle or box. At the corners the sections of the inclined floors should be so. fitted and matched as to support themselves.

The pulley h may be small or large and made of iron or wood, but should be of sufficient size to permit the cord or chain which lifts the box, to work easily and freely.

The box or pig receptacle is adjustable with reference to its movement up and down from, and to, the floor, so as'to regulate the height according tothe size of the sow, and the age and size of the pigs: such adjustment being made by means of the cord '0, which is attached at the cross bar b and passes over the pulley h and fastened at I The inclined floors should be constructed by sections, each side and end being a separate section, so as to permit the easy and speedy removal of the inclined floors, when not desired in place. The plank used in constructing the sections of inclined floors should be laid length-wise of the section, and tied together by cleats on the under sides. When 1t is desired to keep the pigs away from the sow, they may be pushed into the retreat and the box let down to the floor. During farrowing and when it isdesired to allowthe pigs to suck the box should be raisedto such aheight as to permit the sows udder to co-meunder the receptacle, when .she-is lying down.

We claim- 1. The combination in ahog pen-of an outer 55 and an inner pen, an inclosure between the pens, having an inclined floor at different points, the floor being movable intheinclosure, and a frame that is adjustableover the inner inclosure, substantially as set forth.

2; The combination in ahog pen of an outer and an inner pen, the latter used-as a pig receptacle; the space between the outer and inner pens having an inclined floor at its bot.- tom, with projections onsuch floor at different points,-and such inclined floor being movable, and the inner pen orpig receptacle ad justable by means of a cord or chain passing over a pulley, and secured in placeby a rectangular frame, substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN F. OSBORN. JOHN R. HARGOURT; Witnesses:

R. R. DOWNEY, S. M. SHEPERD. 

